Kevin Strasser is in his third year at Portland State as wide receivers coach for the Vikings. This season, he also takes on the responsibility as the team’s pass game coordinator.

“Kevin’s knowledge of the wide receivers and the passing game allows us to make this move,” said Head Coach Jerry Glanville.

Strasser adds the pass game responsibilities following the retirement of former offensive coordinator Mouse Davis. As pass game coordinator, Strasser - along with run game coordinator Jim Craft - will be responsibile for the offensive insertion calendar, game preparation and  designing within the scheme what the offense will do with the run and pass.

In 2008, for the second year in a row, Strasser led several of his players to career years. In particular, slotbacks Aaron Woods and Mario D’Ambrosio combined for 142 receptions and nearly 2,000 yards. D’Ambrosio’s 76 catches ranked fourth in PSU history - and he tied a PSU record with 16 receptions in one game. Woods passed 1,000 yards receiving, marking just the 14th time in history a Viking has done so.

Six of Strasser’s receivers had at least 24 catches on the year, a remarkable achievement for a team that had none of its top eight receivers from the previous year.

The achievement should be excellent this year as well as five of those six return, led by Woods.

Other duties for Strasser include handling the team’s study hall program and recruiting western Oregon and the San Francisco area.

In 2007, Strasser worked with All-Conference and third-team All-American wide receiver Tremayne Kirkland, as well as Kenneth Mackins and David Lewis - all of whom had career-best seasons.

Strasser spent the previous seven seasons coaching in the Canadian Football League, two with the Edmonton Eskimos and five with the Montreal Alouettes. His receivers established themselves as the most productive in the CFL and set numerous team and league records.

“Kevin impressed me in the interview of having the experience to change the way we catch the football,” said Glanville. “We were looking for a teacher that could help our receivers improve their hands and he can do that.”

The Alouette offense dominated the CFL in 2005, finishing atop the league’s scoring column with 592 points. Quarterback Anthony Calvillo led the CFL with 5,556 passing yards, and running back Robert Edwards became the first Alouette since 2002 to break the 1,000 yards rushing mark.

In both 2004 and 2005, four of Strasser’s receivers reached the 1,000-yard mark. One of those players, Ben Cahoon, was twice named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian player (2002, 2003). In 2003, Jeremaine Copeland led the CFL with 1,757 receiving yards and Cahoon set a CFL record for a Canadian receiver with 112 receptions.

In 2002, three of Strasser’s receivers – Cahoon, Pat Woodock and Keith Stokes - were named to the Eastern Division All-Star team. Cahoon and Copeland were Division All-Stars in 2003.

Strasser began his pro coaching career as the Edmonton Eskimos’ receivers coach in 2000 and 2001. He also coached three CFL All-Stars there.

Born in Burbank, CA, Strasser was a wide receiver at Oregon State (1988-1992), where he was a three-year letterman. In 1993-94, Strasser was a graduate assistant at Linfield College, working with receivers and special teams. He received the James B. Conway Award as the outstanding secondary student teacher of the year.

From 1997 to 1999, he was offensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Oregon City High School. In 1999, he was nominated for the prestigious Walt Disney Teacher of the Year award.

Prior to his time at Oregon City, Strasser coached eight-man football and was athletic director at St. Paul (OR) High School.

Kevin comes from a football family. His brother Rich was a quarterback at San Francisco State University while his other brother, Dave, played linebacker at South Carolina.

THE KEVIN STRASSER FILE
3rd year at Portland State

Hometown: Milwaukie, OR
Alma Mater: Oregon State, 1993
Playing Experience: Oregon State, wide receiver, 1988-92
Date of Birth: September 7, 1970
Family: Wife, Jeannette

COACHING EXPERIENCE:
2009    Portland State, Wide Receivers/Pass Game Coordinator

2007-08    Portland State Wide Receivers
2005-06    Montreal Alouettes Offensive Coordinator
2002-04    Montreal Alouettes Wide Receivers/Co-Offensive Coordinator
2000-01    Edmonton Eskimos Wide Receivers
1997-99    Oregon City (OR) HS Offensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach
1995-96    St. Paul (OR) HS Head Coach
1993-94    Linfield Graduate Assistant